Fighting Against The New

When Francis was in the Chapter-General at St. Mary of the Porziuncula (which was called the Chapter of the Mats, because there were no dwellings there except made of mats and there were five thousand friars there), several wise and learned friars went to my Lord of Ostia who was there and said to him, “My Lord, we wish that you would persuade Brother Francis to follow the counsel of the wise brothers and to allow himself now and then to be led by them.”  And they quoted the Rule of St. Augustine, of St. Benedict and of St. Bernard who taught thus and thus to live in order.  And when the Cardinal had repeated this to the holy man, by way of admonition, Francis didn’t answer him at all, but took him by the hand and led him to the friars assembled in the Chapter, and spoke thus to the friars in the fervor and power of the Holy Spirit, “My brothers, my brothers, the Lord called me to the way of simplicity and humility and this path he has shown in truth for me and for those who will believe and imitate me.  And therefore I wish that you do not quote to me any other rule—neither St. Augustine’s, St. Benedicts, Bernard’s nor any other way of living—except the way which was mercifully shown to me by the Lord.  And the Lord said to men that He wished me to be a new covenant in this world and He would lead me by another way than by this understanding.  God will confound you through your wisdom and knowledge and I trust in the police of the Lord that God will punish you by them and that you will return to the previous state, whether you wish to or not.”  Then the Cardinal was very amazed and said nothing and all the friars feared greatly.

                        -Mirror of Perfection Section IV, Chapter 68

Religion’s natural tendency is to be conservative, to stick with what worked in previous times.  The way of God is to push boundaries, to lead people to be more in line with His will.  Since we have not yet met the level of His mercy and grace, let alone His wise judgments in our church, then we still need to change, to reform ourselves.  Francis was accomplishing something new, something God-given.  Benedict was certainly accomplishing something new and powerful in his day.  But we must not use the successes of the past to undermine the potential successes of the future.  We must remember the wise counsel of Gamaliel to the Sanhedrin: “If it is not of God, it will be overthrown, but if it is of God, no one can fight against it, or you may find yourself fighting against God.”

Many will keep the old traditions warm.  But dare not fight against the new thing God is accomplishing.